Spark & Anvil
Neurodivergent support

Made with neurodivergent kids in mind.

Autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, dyscalculic, OCD, Tourette's, and twice-exceptional kids deserve apps built around how their brains actually work — not workarounds for what a "typical" kid would do.

Across our portfolio, 11 apps ship documented neurodivergent-supportive design — sensory overrides, focus scaffolds, predictable flows, identity-first language, co-regulation patterns, and trauma-informed gates. The full list, with the evidence base for each, is below.

11 apps with documented ND-supportive design 13 design traits across the catalog 45 per-app evidence-base entries 100% free · on-device · no tracking

Filter by design property:

Apps designed for neurodivergent learners

11 apps with cast-design + sensitivity-reviewer + framework-citation documentation.

FocusForge

DIR-FEDC

A gamified executive function training adventure for students ages 9-14, with specific design for ADHD and other neurodivergent learners. Players build study skills through six EF domains: working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, planning/organization, task initiation, and time awareness.

ADHD-supportive Focus-supportive Strength-based Identity-affirming Predictable flow
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • EF cast as capacities-not-gaps Wave 28 DN retrofit; Mautone 2024 + Hai 2025 + CHADD 2024 alignment
  • ADHD-shame static-response gating Neurodivergent-affirming voice baseline; FoundationModels surface filter routes shame-signals to Anchor mentor
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
HarmonyForge

STEAM

A music creation app that leverages neurodivergent (especially autistic) pattern-thinking strengths by translating visual patterns into music. Players arrange colors, shapes, and positions on a grid -- the pattern IS the music. Includes sensory-safe environments, emotion vocabulary tools, and therapist observer mode.

Autism-supportive Sensory-aware Low-stimulus mode Strength-based Identity-affirming
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • Visual-pattern-to-music translation Leverages autistic pattern-thinking strengths per app tagline
  • Sensory-safe environments Sensory overrides per Wave-7 DN handoff
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
InclusionForge

ACADEMICS

Experience daily life through different abilities, explore the history of disability rights, then design solutions that work for everyone — using Universal Design principles to build a more accessible world. Ages 9-14.

Identity-affirming 2e-friendly Communication-scaffolding Sensory-aware Strength-based
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • Universal Design curriculum Disability-rights movement history; Justin Dart Jr. / Judy Heumann / Ed Roberts / Haben Girma identity representation
  • DisCrit + ASAN-affirming voice baseline Annamma 2024 + Sayman 2025 + ASAN 2024 alignment
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
MindForge

DIR-FEDC

Adventure RPG where players navigate social scenarios, manage stress through mini-games, and build emotional intelligence by helping NPCs resolve conflicts. Combines CASEL's 5 core competencies with SHAPE America's National Health Education Standards in a quest-based format. AI-driven NPCs respond to player choices with realistic emotional reactions.

Trauma-informed Co-regulation Identity-affirming Strength-based Communication-scaffolding
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • CASEL 5-competency cast capacities-to-build framing Wave 32b DN retrofit; SAMHSA TIP 57 + NCTSN gold-standard reference
  • Cast NEVER says 'calm down' Explicit anti-pattern enforcement
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
SpectrumCanvas

DIR-FEDC

A digital art studio designed for autistic and other neurodivergent visual thinkers where every art material is simulated without the sensory challenges of the physical version. Watercolor, charcoal, clay, and collage -- all with adjustable texture feedback, sound, and visual intensity. Includes social story illustration tools and an emotion palette that maps feelings to colors.

Autism-supportive Sensory-aware Low-stimulus mode Identity-affirming Strength-based
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • Wave-8 dual-palette + 0.3s crossfade sensory overrides Autism-aware sensory regulation; per app DN handoff
  • Sensory-soften gesture as cast member (Soften) Explicitly modeled regulation move
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
WellnessForge

ACADEMICS

Build health literacy through nutrition analysis, evidence-based substance abuse prevention, first aid simulations, and social-emotional learning — using the research-proven Life Skills Training model rather than fear-based approaches. Ages 9-14.

Strength-based Co-regulation Communication-scaffolding Trauma-informed
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • Botvin Life Skills Training (LST) framework Evidence-based, not fear-based
  • Stress-regulation primitives cast member (Steady) Breath / ground / reframe before deciding
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
CoRegRealm

DIR-FEDC

Co-Regulation Role-Reversal RPG — kid co-regulates a smaller creature companion through dysregulation cycles, learning the regulation primitive through the teacher role (Cyan).

Co-regulation Interoception Strength-based Communication-scaffolding Trauma-informed
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • ForgeKit 0.86 CoRegulationEngine 6-move palette as cast Match / Hum / Sway / Beside / Word / Patient
  • DIR-Floortime-certified sensitivity reviewer REQUIRED $1,000-$1,500 envelope
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
RuptureRepair

DIR-FEDC

Misattunement → Repair Cycle as the Curriculum — two-player relational-craft scaffolding the 5-step repair protocol (Mend). Trauma-informed; no scoring; off-ramps every scenario.

Trauma-informed Co-regulation Communication-scaffolding Identity-affirming Strength-based
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • 5-step repair-protocol cast See-It / Sorry / Felt / Offer / Together; Wave 30 heart-harbor cluster
  • Power-difference kit-9 trusted-adult-first When power-asymmetry detected, FIRST move is RAINN + Childhelp, NOT offer-repair
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
TempCheck

DIR-FEDC

Daily Attunement Temp-Checks — 15-second bidirectional affect check-in with caregiver; surfaces overlaps + differences; growth chart over weeks (Pulse).

Co-regulation Interoception Strength-based Identity-affirming Sensory-aware
Evidence base (5) ▸
  • Streak-shame prevention Pattern-over-time framing; no daily-streak counter UI; Wave 30 codified
  • Multi-caregiver isolation Per-dyad SwiftData partitioning; multiple-trusted-adult normalizing
  • + 3 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
MotifLab

STEAM

Composition-as-Narrative-Arc for Tweens — motif IS the protagonist; 6-stage arc (intro → motif statement → development → contrast → recapitulation → resolution). Trill songbird mascot (sibling to LyricForge's Pip).

Autism-supportive Strength-based Predictable flow Sensory-aware
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • Motif-as-protagonist 6-stage arc Predictable, repeatable structure
  • Trill songbird mascot (sibling to LyricForge's Pip) Pattern B hero-mascot-led DN methodology
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners
MicrobeLab

STEM

Microbiology Adventure for Tweens — microscope-zoom core loop, microbiome simulator, named microbe characters (Lacto, Bif), immune-response minigame. Beneficial microbes foregrounded; COVID-trauma-sensitive (Vee).

Trauma-informed Strength-based Predictable flow Identity-affirming
Evidence base (4) ▸
  • Beneficial microbes foregrounded; pathogens opt-in gated COVID-trauma-aware design property
  • No COVID-specific scenarios Explicit anti-pattern
  • + 2 more — see app page
🧠 Designed for neurodivergent learners

What does "neurodivergent" mean?

Neurodivergent is an umbrella term for people whose brain wiring differs from what's typical — autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, dyscalculic, OCD, Tourette's, twice-exceptional (2e), and others. The term was coined by Kassiane Asasumasu and popularized by Nick Walker (2021); it's the current advocacy-community consensus for the umbrella category.

Neurotypical describes people whose brain wiring matches the statistical majority. It's a descriptive category, not a value judgment.

Neurodiversity is the broader paradigm — the recognition that brain variation is natural human variation (Singer 1998; den Houting 2019; Dwyer 2022). Like biodiversity, neurodiversity is a property of populations, not individuals.

A note on language. Throughout this page we use identity-first language ("autistic kid", "ADHD learner", "dyslexic kid") rather than person-first language ("kid with autism"). This is the current preference of the majority of autistic, ADHD, and dyslexic adults per Botha 2022 / Bury 2020 / Kenny 2016 and per ASAN, CHADD, LDA, and Decoding Dyslexia consensus. Some individuals prefer person-first; we respect both — the page default is identity-first.

For more depth, see NAMI, Autism Society, CHADD, or Decoding Dyslexia.

Our editorial standard

Every ND-support claim on this page is sourced. Each app's evidence-base entries come from the app's cast-design handoff, an engaged sensitivity reviewer, or a cited framework — not marketing copy.

External sensitivity reviewers are engaged for our most sensitivity-gated apps: a CHADD-affiliated reviewer for FocusForge; a DIR-Floortime-certified reviewer for CoRegRealm; a CASEL-affiliated + pediatric-mental-health-clinician reviewer (required, not optional) for MindForge; and others. Cumulative reviewer envelope across the gated portfolio is approximately $5K per .claude/rules/trauma-informed-content.md.

Frameworks cited across the portfolio include SAMHSA TIP 57 (2014) trauma-informed care, NCTSN, DSM-5, CASEL 5-competency, DIR-Floortime, Botvin Life Skills Training, Universal Design for Learning, CHADD, ASAN-affirming voice, Mautone 2024, and Hai 2025.

This is not a substitute for a clinician's recommendation for your specific kid. It's an editorial gate at the design-handoff level — a published commitment to the design property that the apps then implement.

If you or your kid need help right now

These resources are USA-based. Outside the USA, please consult a local provider.

General crisis

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988
  • Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741
  • Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453
  • RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673

Neurodivergent-specific

Neurodivergent-affirming design takes work

Sensitivity reviewers, cast-design handoffs, anti-shame gating, sensory overrides, identity-first language — none of this is free. We're a non-profit-pending studio and our apps stay free forever. Help us keep building.

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Crisis support